I am a southern baptist who doesn't believe in Catholicism. what do you think?

Question

i don't believe in the catholic ideas, and their own man made laws. nor do i pray to mary, or saints or whatever. nor do i feel that i should confess to their holy man servants of god. am i right, or foolish?

just because catholics are the biggest subgroup of christianity, doesn't make them correct, right?

Answer 1

I think you are dismissing some of God's greatest gifts.

+ Holy Apostolic Tradition +

I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. (John 16:12-13)

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

We instruct you, brothers, in the name of (our) Lord Jesus Christ,to shun any brother who conducts himself in a disorderly way and not according to the tradition they received from us. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you. (1 Corinthians 11:2)

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 C.E.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

Do Christians who do not allow the continuing guiding force of the Holy Spirit to make their beliefs more and more perfect, still endorse slavery as Colossians 3:22 commands, "Slaves, obey your human masters in everything"?

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 80 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect1chpt2.htm#80

+ Saints +

Catholics share the belief in the Communion of Saints with many other Christians, including the Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Episcopal, and Methodist Churches.

The Communion of Saints is the belief where all saints are intimately related in the Body of Christ, a family. When you die and go to heaven, you do not leave this family.

Everyone in heaven or on their way to heaven are saints, you, me, my deceased grandmother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Mother Teresa and Pope John Paul II.

As part of this family, you may ask your family and friends living here on earth to pray for you. Or, you may also ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew, or your deceased grandmother living in heaven to pray for you.

Prayer to saints in heaven is simple communication, not worship.

Asking others to pray for you whether your loved ones on Earth or your loved ones in heaven is always optional.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 946 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3art9p5.htm#946

+ Confession and Reconciliation +

The Catholic Church believes that "Only God forgives sin."

When a penitent person asks God for forgiveness, his (or her) sins are immediately forgiven.

Catholics also believe that when someone sins they not only hurt their relationship with God, they also injure the entire church, the body of Christ.

Jesus said, "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19)

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,"Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." (Luke 20:22-23)

Oral confessing of sins is recommended over and over in both the Old and New Testaments:
+ James 5:16
+ Acts 19:18
+ Matthew 3:5-6
+ Mark 1:5
+ 1 Timothy 6:12
+ 1 John 1:9
+ Numbers 5:6-7
+ Nehemiah 9:2
+ Sirach 4:26

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation with a priest ordained in the name of Jesus Christ not only reconciles the sinner to God but with the entire church, including you and me.

Remember all sacraments are encounters with God. This sacrament is a healing encounter between God and the penitent.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1422 and following: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2.htm

+ With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I am neither, but why does it bother you , what other people believe?? It is freedom of choice . At least I thought it was.

Answer 3

If you are a southern baptists, I would not expect you to do things or believe things that a Catholic does or believes. You would be very hypoctitical if you did things and believed things a Catholic does.

In my mind, the "rightness" of the Catholic Church has nothing to do with it's size. It has to do with their doctrine and traditions.

Answer 4

Good for you! You are very wise. but you might want to take a closer look at the baptist also. I use to be a Baptist myself. Until I heard the whole truth. It set me free.

Did you know that the catholic church is the first christian church established. Christianity did not exist when Jesus was here 2000 years ago. It was'nt until 1,155 years after Jesus. Created in the caucus Mountains of europe it is now a 551 year old religion. For the first 400 years black people weren't even alowed to read the Bible in America. And to blacks in America, these christians were the real terrorist. In the name of Christ they Raped, & Murdered countless Black men, women, & children for 400 years. They also seperated our familes & we lost our own religion Islam, our God Allah, our language Arameic, & our culture.

None of the prophets were catholic or christians. And what is this- Hale peter, Hale Paul , Hale Simon nonsense. Praising everybody but God. That can not be Gods Religion. Isaiah 44:08- God says: is there a God Besides me, yea, there is no God, I know not any. They also say Jesus is God, but Jesus clearly stated in Mathew 19:17 Why does thou call me good, there is none good but one & that is God. John 20:17 He says I ascend to my father and your father, my God & your God. So He to has a God He answers to. This is why Jesus also said many shall come in my name saying that I am Christ and shall decieve many...The Catholics & the rest of the Christian community also cellebrate christmas. A man made holiday that No scripture in the Bible supports. They would all be shocked to know Jesus was born 2nd week of September, & the Bible Jerimiah 10 says dont be like the heathens with their traditions of decorating the tree with silver , gold, & lights. This is a caucasian holiday & God called it Heathen.

According to Jesus he was a descendant of Abraham. Abraham built the Kabaa in Mecca according to the bible, Quran, Torah & Internet. This was for Muslims. Luke 24:36, Jesus greeted the people with; Peace be unto you. Only Jesus spoke Arameic, English did'nt exist. This means he said- As Salaam Alaikum! wich means (Peace be unto you).

Isaiah (21:07) & (21:13) gives us a prophecy of two Prophets to come. It says the 1st would ride an *** or donkey, & the one after him would ride a camel. It also mentions that the burden was on Arabia. What does this mean you ask?

Well Jesus rode an *** according John 12:14, but who is the one after him who rode the camel & carried the burden of Arabia. The only prophet who came after Jesus, & rode a camel, in the land of Arabia was Prophetr Muhammad Peace be upon him.

I can go on forever telling you the truth about these religions. But congradulations for not living a lie because of your family's belief. I don't have a problem with any one who worships in these religions only, If you are going to do so, say you want to believe in a lie, Don't go decieving people telling them it's the truth. And if you think God will look past you Blapheming his name, and accepting these false religions created & taught by the Caucasian Race. You are sadly Mistaken. One God, One Religion, One Truth. Islam

Accept it or leave it alone! As Salaam Alikum! Peace be unto you.

Answer 5

yes you are right, i agree with you. the catholic teachings are the very opposite of the teachings of God. but you better check the religion you are into right now...check this site www.esoriano.wordpress.com

Answer 6

Believe what you want, and let them believe what THEY want. I didn't notice any of them asking you, after all, any more than you asked them. Just try to get along, ok?

Answer 7

Really, what is that to me? For all I care, you could worship a giant butterfly named Fred, and it would make no difference to me.

However, you do - like it or not - accept some very Catholic ideas, such as:

Jesus is God, second person of the trinity
Baptism is necessary for salvation


....I could go on with a number of Catholic-derived views held by Baptists. You got them from us, and the only way you could say you do not adhere to them would be to leave Christianity.

Answer 8

I am a Roman Catholic who doesn't care what a Southern Baptist thinks.

And why? Because I have better things to do.

Are you right? Are you foolish?

I do know that you are wasting your time.

What do you think?

Answer 9

I think I feel sadness that you feel from the path God made for us. You're not far from it, just off to the side. The Catholic Church is the true church of Christ and we are the bride of Christ. Our laws are made by God, we Ask Mary to pray for us, Jesus said to confess our sins to one another.

I am proud to be Catholic, I am proud to have the Pope as our leader, I am glad to be able to confess my sins and be cleansed of them, I am glad that God allows Mary, the angels and saints to help us in times of need, and I am glad that GOD himself set up this church.

Answer 10

I believe in Catholicism, as I know it exists. i do not however agree with anything they have to say.

Are you right for not agreeing with them? Sure, why not. Does that make you "right?" Does that really matter?

Answer 11

You are still a baptist... foolishness is believing in imaginary friends.